Premier League and Football League clubs ban vuvuzelas

A growing number of Premier League clubs are following Tottenham's lead and banning vuvuzelas from their grounds on match days this season.

Arsenal, Birmingham, Everton, Fulham and West Ham are the latest teams to have stated the plastic horns will not be allowed inside stadia.

Some Football League clubs have also banned the horns, which were popular at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Spurs made their decision after talks with police and local authorities.

The Londoners reacted upon suggestions the noise could pose risks to public safety, while Arsenal stated they wanted to "ensure the enjoyment and safety" of fans.

A Spurs statement on the
club's official website.
read: "We are concerned that the presence of the instruments within the stadium pose unnecessary risks and could impact on the ability of all supporters to hear any emergency safety announcements.

"We are very proud of the fantastic atmosphere that our supporters produce organically at White Hart Lane and we are all very much looking forward to this continuing into the forthcoming season."

The Premier League has refused to implement a widespread ban, stating that "such matters are dealt with at club level".

Birmingham City said they took into account the views of fans and their safety advisory committee.

"An overwhelming majority of Blues supporters said they didn't want vuvuzelas to be allowed at St Andrews," said the club on their
official website.

A West Ham club statement said: "Under the current health and safety regulations at the stadium, which already disallows musical bands, we would not allow them (vuvuzelas) into the stadium as they could be considered a weapon and could also be considered to be an annoyance to others.

"The health and safety regulation that all of this comes under is already in place.

"The club wish at all times to ensure that all supporters are allowed to enjoy the game they are watching and prides itself on the passionate, loud and robust support from our fans at all matches at Upton Park."

An Everton statement read: "It isn't a case of us being killjoys it is simply a measure which is designed to safeguard our reputation with the game's governing bodies. We have, in the past, had problems with people throwing objects onto the pitch and the Football Association has made it perfectly clear that we do face the possibility of sanctions should there be any repeat offence.

"In the wake of the World Cup in South Africa we have received many emails from our supporters asking that we ban vuvuzelas on the grounds that they are simply irritating - but none urging us to permit their use at first-team fixtures. "

We haven't really given any full consideration to vuvuzelas at the moment... any decision will be taken in due course and in consultation with relevant supporter groups

Blackpool FC spokesman

Top-flight newcomers Blackpool, meanwhile, have yet to make a decision on whether vuvuzelas would be welcomed at their Bloomfield Road ground.

"We are keen to ensure the atmosphere created by our fans is better than ever before, but this does not necessarily mean vuvuzelas will be permitted," said a club spokesman.

"We haven't really given any full consideration to vuvuzelas at the moment - we've had plenty of other things occupying the mind, with a debut season in the Premier League to prepare for.

"Any decision will be taken in due course and in consultation with relevant supporter groups."

Following their widespread use during the World Cup in South Africa, retailers across Britain have being selling vuvuzelas in anticipation of their popularity.

However, the horns have been heavily criticised by players and fans alike with many suggesting they are tuneless and block out singing and chanting.

The All England Club banned the instrument from this summer's Wimbledon, amidst fears that they could spoil the event.

Similarly, a spokesman for Henley Royal Regatta stated that vuvuzelas were on a list of items which would not be allowed within the enclosures or the boat tent area.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has said that each Test venue would be able to decide its policy on which items could be admitted.

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